Chapter 7 - The Trap Closes
The audio recording ended, leaving a devastating, heavy silence in its wake.
The image on the screen shifted one final time. It displayed the high-resolution photograph of the forged deed transferring Ramón’s land to Patrimonio Agrícola Cárdenas. A red circle zoomed in on the forged signature at the bottom.
Arturo was hyperventilating, his eyes wildly scanning the exits.
"This is an outrage! This is an illegal recording!" Arturo screamed, trying to salvage his rapidly disintegrating reputation in front of his peers. "This is a setup by a greedy, ungrateful boy trying to extort us!"
A man sitting quietly in the second row slowly stood up. He was wearing a plain gray suit and had not spoken to anyone prior to the ceremony.
"Actually, Mr. Montes," the man said, his voice calm and carrying the undeniable weight of legal authority. "The recordings were obtained legally under a state-sanctioned surveillance warrant."
The man reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a leather badge holder, letting it flip open to reveal a silver shield.
"I am Deputy Prosecutor Valdez with the State Attorney General’s Office," he announced to the stunned crowd. "And there is an active, ongoing criminal investigation into attempted real estate fraud, forgery, and criminal conspiracy regarding this property."
At his words, eight men and women who had been standing near the perimeter of the courtyard, dressed like ordinary wedding guests, suddenly stepped forward, blocking the exits.
"Beatriz, say nothing!" Arturo yelled, panicking as he realized the net had completely closed around them.
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Valeria turned to Mateo, ripping her veil off her face. She was crying hysterically, mascara running down her cheeks in dark, ugly streaks.
"Mateo, please!" she begged, grabbing his arms. "I never wanted to hurt your father! I just thought... I thought you deserved the money! I did this for our future!"
